Adjustable fastening device



March 3, 1959 R. c, LEGAT 7 2,875,492

ADJUSTABLE FASTENING DEVICE;

Filed Sept. 29. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Roamr 0. LEG/1T Bl mv/yy ATTORNEYS 7 March 3, 1959 R. c. LEGAT I ,8

ADJUSTABLE FASTENING DEVICE I Filed Sept. 29, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheerl 2 a aa; I

INVENTOR BY Ro a s/a2?" G. EMT

United States Patent ADJUSTABLE FASTENING DEVICE Robert C. Legat, New Britain, Conn.

Application September 29, 1954, Serial No. 459,086

15 Claims. (Cl. 242G6) This invention relates to adjustable fasteners of the type comprising a flexible track and a cooperating member which is adapted to be secured selectively in various adjusted positions on such track.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 373,148, filed August 10, 1953, and subsequently abandoned. i

In adjustable fasteners of the indicated type, the trac usually includes a series 'of spaced stops which are clamped, sewn, or otherwise attached to or formed on a flexible supporting member, usually consisting of a tape or stringer. The flexible track is sewn or otherwise attached to the article with which the fastener is to be used, by means of the tape or stringer. The cooperating member is usually constructed to slide over the track or stops and is provided with a releasable clamping or locking member which engages the outer side of the tape between any two adjacent stops to secure the slider at any desired point on the track. An adjustable fastening device having the aforesaid features of construction'is illustrated in Patent No. 2,437,765 issued to N. Statham, March 16, 1948.

Fasteners of the indicated type are employed to fasten two articles together, or two pieces of the same article. As an instance, they have been extensively used on the waistbands of garments to properly fit the garment on the wearer. While such application of the fastener has been highly satisfactory, the use of these fasteners in this field and for many other applications, has been limited because of certain disadvantages, which are inherent in the construction of these fasteners as heretofore made. For example, the present type construction of these adjustable fasteners renders them too expensive a device to be used on, and too costly to apply to, dungarees which represent a huge market, both in this country and abroad. Further, such fasteners do not satisfactorily withstand the washing and mangling operations employed in commercial laundering. It is not unusual to find several of the stops on the track damaged or missing, or the slider crushed, or the clamping or locking member of the slider twisted, bent, or broken off after a garment provided with such a fastener has been subjected to a commercial laundering. Manufacturers of these fasteners have endeavored to overcome this problem by making the track of heavier construction and by using heavier metal in the construction of the slider, but to no avail. In view of these disadvantages of the present known adjustable fasteners, dungaree manufacturers usually employ snap fasteners on their garments, but such fasteners are not entirely satisfactory, because they do not permit of enough and sufficiently close adjustment for the users of such garments.

The primary purpose of this invention is to provide an adjustable fastener constituted of a flexible track and an adjustable cooperating member which is free of the aforesaid disadvantages of prior adjustable fasteners.

A specific object of the invention is to provide an adjustable fastener of the indicated type which can, be manufactured at such low cost, and can be applied to 'garments with such facility as to render it particularly suitable for application to low cost garments produced on a high production basis without adding substantially to the cost of such garments.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable fastener of the indicated type which is simpler in construction than prior adjustable fasteners and which can be readily manipulated by children to effect proper adjustment of a garment without danger of the fastener opening accidentally during usage of the garment.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable fastener of the indicated type which is of such simple and sturdy construction that it will not be damaged or rendered inoperative when subjected to commercial laundering.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable fastener of the indicated type, the construction of which is such that its appearance is especially appropriate and pleasing on garments of the dungaree type.

Other objects, as well as the advantages of the invention, will become apparent in the course of the following description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the track 'of a form of my improved fastener and showing it attached to an article or garment part;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the track with the cooperating member attached, the member being shown attached to another article or garment part;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the assembled track and cooperating member;

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. Sis a bottom plan view of the cooperating member;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of such member;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the cooperating member;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of track;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view of an assembled track and cooperating member, and illustrating a method of locking such member on the track;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view showing another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 13 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 12;

Figs. 14 and 15 are sections taken along the lines 1414 and 15-'15, respectively, of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is a bottom plan view of the cooperating member shown in Figs. 12 and 13;

Fig. 17 is an end view of such cooperating member looking from the bottom of Fig. 16;

Fig; 18 is-a sectional view taken along the lines 18-18 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 19 is an end elevational view of the cooperating member looking from the left of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a top plan view of another form of track and showing its attachment to a garment part;

Fig. 21 is a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the stop elements in the track shown in Fig. 20;

Fig. 23 is a side elevational view of such stop element; and Fig. 24 is an end elevational view of such stop element.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the numeral 10 designates generally the track of the fastener. The track 10 comprises a flexible member 11 in the form of a bead, and having a substantially rectangularly-shaped cross-sectional area and a predetermined length. The head member 11 may be made of any suitable material,

but is preferably made of woven fibrous material such as is employed in the manufacture of tapes. The bead member may be a solid woven product or may be constituted of a tubularly woven material provided with a cord core. The bead member may also be stiffened, but not rendered inflexible by an impregnation of suitable hardening material such as lacquer or varnish, to give it sufficient body to render it more suitable for the purposes for which the fastener is to be employed. The material of the bead' member 11 is also preferably such that it will permit stitching of such member directly to the article by conventional sewing mechanism. In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the bead member 11 is shown so secured to an article part 12 by a longitudinal line of stitches 13 located centrally of such bead and extending throughout the entire length thereof.

Clamped to the longitudinal side edge portions of the bead member 11 of the track, are a series of pairs of stop members 14; each pair of said stop members constituting astop on the track 19. Each stop member 14 is made of a substantially rectangularly-shaped blank of sheet metal having sufi'icient stiffness and strength, such as brass. The blank is shaped into substantially tubular form and provided along its opposed longitudinal edges with teeth 15. Each stop member 14 is clamped to and secured by means of the teeth 15 thereof to a side edge portion of the bead member 11, so that the outer central portion thereof projects beyond a longitudinal side edge of such member 11. Thus, each pair of such members provides a stop having oppositely disposed cooperating member engaging portions extending transversely of the longitudinal length of the track, as will hereinafter become more clear. It will be noted from Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, that the two stop members 14- of each pair are in spaced relation on the bead member 11, so that the central longitudinal portion of the latter is left unobstructed by metallic material to enable such member 11 to be readily secured to the article by the line of sewing stitches 13. Each pair of stop members 14 is spaced apart a predetermined distance from the adjacent pair of stop members and sufiiciently to enable the cooperating member to be readily inserted therebetween in the adjustment of the fastener, as will hereinafter be described. It will be noted also, that the ends of the bead member 11, beyond the terminal pairs of stop members 14 in the series thereof, are of substantially the same length and have a length which is preferably at least as great as the length of the spaces between the pairs of stop members. Thus, the track is readily reversible and it is immaterial which end is to be considered as the forward end in the securement of the track on the article or garment part 12.

The cooperating member of the fastener is designated generally by the numeral 20 in Fig. 2 of the drawings. As shown more clearly in Figs. 2 to 7, the member 20 com prises abody portion 21 provided at one end with a loop 22 by which such member may be attached to the other article or garment part 23. The attachment of loop 22 to garment part 23 may be accomplished in any suitable manner, as by passing one end of the article part 23 which may be in the form of a fabric tab, that is secured to a garment, through the loop 22, turning back such end and securing such end to an intermediate portion of the tab 23 by stitching 24. Projecting from the other end of the body portion 21 are a pair of spaced hook-shaped members 25, 25, which turn back to extend under and in spaced relation to such body portion. The hook members 25, 25, are spaced from each other a distance approximately equal to the width of the rectangularly-shaped bead member 11 of track 10, to provide a slot or opening 26, into which is received member 11 when the member 20 is adjustably mounted on the track 10. The hook members 25, 25, are spaced from the under-sides of the body portion 21 a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the stop members 14 so that the latter may be received between such hook members and the body portion 21. The hook members 25, 25, have a length less than the length of the space between adjacent pairs of stop members 14 so that they may be readily placed in such space astraddle the portion of the bead member 11 located in such space. As will be observed in Fig. 7 of the drawings, the hook members 25, 25, are substantially straight for the major portion of their length and are then curved slightly downwardly to facilitate their placement in an astraddle position on the bead member 11 and their insertion under a pair of stop members 14-, using the bead member 11 as a guide. The insertion of the hook members 25, 25, under a pair of stop members 14 may be further facilitated by providing the end upper surface thereof with bevels 27. Integral with the longitudinal side edges of the body portion 21 are a pair of ears 2%, 28, which are bent downwardly from such body portion so as to be disposed at substantially right angles thereto. The lower longitudinal edges of the ears 28, 28, abut or seat on the inner surfaces of the outer edge portions of the hook members 25, 25, so that the outer surfaces of such ears are substantially flush with the outer longitudinal edges of the hook members. Preferably the lower edges of the cars 28, 28, are shaped to exactly conform to such inner surfaces of the hook members 25, 25. The ears 2c 28 are also preferably formed so that they close the side openings defined by the body portion 21 and the hook members and extend from the bend of such hook members to a point adjacent to the free ends of such hook members.

It is believed to be evident from the foregoing description that the body portion of the cooperating member 20,

the hook members 25, 25, thereof and the ears 23, 28,,

provide a housing or socket having a longitudinally extending central guideway 26 adapted to receive in a direction transversely of the length of such socket, a portion of the bead member ill and within which is also received both of the stop members 14 of the pair thereof which constitute a stop, on the track it? to which the member 26' is to be connected. In connectin the cooperating member 2-0 to the track llii, the user moves the member 20 downwardly into an astraddle position on the portion of the bead member 11 forwardly of the stop to which it is to be connected and then draws the member 2t) rearwardly with the bead member 11 acting as a guide to cause such stop to enter into the socket formed by such r member 29 with the spaced oppositely disposed cooperating member engaging portions of such stop disposed between the body portion 21 and the inner edge portions of the hooks 25, 25. During the entry of the stop, the portion of the bead member 11 to which the stop is connected will c'oact to cause proper insertion of the cooperating member on such stop. While the member 11 is substantially flexible in a lengthwise direction, it has suiticient rigidity in a transverse direction to maintain the stops properly aligned and to facilitate the insertion of the cooperating member 26 on such stops. When the forward ends or shoulders of the stop members 14 constituting the stop come into engagement with the bent ends of the books 25, 25, the cooperating member will have been fully positioned on such stop members. As the body portion21 is inclined with respect to the hooks 25 (see Fig. 7) in the fully positioned condition of the cooperating member on the track, the body portion will be inclined outwardly with regard to the track (note Fig. 3). Theconnection of the cooperating member to the track is accomplished by a simple continuous movement and without the manipulation of any movable parts on such member. The cooperating member will maintain such connection until positively removed therefrom to disconnect it from the track. When so connected and in the use of the article parts, the ears 2% 28, will coact with the bead member 11 to limit twisting movement on the track 1% The cars 2%, 28, perform the further function of preventing any bending or deformation of the hooks 25, 25, or the body portion 21 relative to each other under crushing stresses exerted on the cooperating member, such as are encountered for example, when the garment is subjected to commercial laundering.

It will be observed from the foregoing discussion that the locking members 14 of the, fastener are made from rectangular blanks of brass or the like, which may readily, by a machine operation, be secured to the bead member 11. The cooperating member 20 is likewise constructed from a sheet blank of brass or the like and may be formed into the desired shape in a relatively few operations. Thus, the entire fastener can be constructed at relatively little cost. All that is necessary in order to assemble the fastener on the article or garment parts, is to sew the track to the article part 12 by the line of stitching 13 and to secure the cooperating member to the article part 23 by a sewing operation; both sewing operations being capable of being carried out on a production basis. These factors enable the fastener to be especially desirable for application to low cost garments and the like. The cooperating member is simple and sturdily constructed and cannot be damaged under relatively large crushing stresses. Due to the simplicity of the construction of such member and the ease with which it may be adjustably secured to the track 10 without the necessity of manipulation of any movable parts, its function and operation will be readily understood by even small children. The simple sturdy form of the fastener is particularly attractive to users of dungarees because his in keeping with this type of garment and enhances the appearance of the latter.

While I have hereinabove described one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, instead of making each stop out of two separate members 14, such stop may be constructed from a single piece of sheet metal which is folded around the edges of the bead member 11 and secured therein in substantially the same manner as the members 14. The track 10 instead of being formed of a stitch penetratable member 11 composed of leather, plastic or textile material, or the like, and metal elements 14, may be constructed entirely out of leather, or plastic or textile material. As shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, such a track would be constituted of a body 11 on which are integrally formed projections 14 during the cutting or weaving of the bead or tape which is to constitute the track. The projections 14 if desired, may be suitably hardened by impregnating them with a suitable material such as shellac. The track may also be made by making the fastener elements out of wire, with or without teeth, or by securing pronged fastener elements in spaced series on a fabric tape or on the fabric of the article itself. This latter form of the invention is shown in Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings, in which the numeral 12 designates the article or garment part on which the track is formed. As illustrated, each stop is composed of a stern 30 which is secured to the flexible material of the article part by prongs 31. The stem 30 is provided with a flat head 32.,of any desired shape that will provide opposed cooperating member engaging portions. In the construction shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the head 32 is shown as circular, the two transversely opposed portions thereof disposed between the hooks 25 of the cooperating member 20 and the body portion 21 thereof constituting the cooperating member engaging portions of such stop. The cooperating member shown in these figures is similar in construction to the previously described member.

It will also be understood that the cooperating member 20 may be secured to the other article part by other means than the loop 22. For example, the draft end of member 20 may be formed to be clamped or clinched onto the article part 23. Thus, the material forming the opening in the loop 22 instead of being removed may be folded back to form a flap between which and the outer end of the loop 22 the article part may be gripped, such grippingv action being made more secure by providing teeth or prongs on such flap. The cooperating member may also be provided with locking means which interengage with locking means on the stops to obviate any possibility of such member inadvertently becoming disengaged from the particular stop with which it is engaged. Such means, as shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings, may take the form of locking recesses 35, 35, formed in opposed relation on the inner surfaces of the ears 23" of the cooperating member and adapted to come into interlocking engagement with projections 36, 36, on the stop members 14" when such member is fully inserted on the stop. Due to the fact that the bead member 11" has certain resiliency in a transverse direction, such memher will initially yield in such direction as. the cooperating member is inserted on the stop, and then will force the locking projections 36 into engagement with the recesses 35 when such projections and recess come into alignment. With such interlocking of the parts, the cooperating member will not move off the stop until positively removed therefrom.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 12 to 19 of the drawings, the track consists of a section 40 of flexible material provided with four pairs of stop members 41, each pair of such members constituting a stop. As shown more clearly in Figs. 14 and 15, the section 40 is constituted of an outer layer 42 of tubularly woven tape material and an inner core 43 of cord or other suitable material; the layer 42 and core 43 being flattened to provide a fiat section approximately one-sixteenth of an inch thick. The material of section 40 is impregnated with a suitable hardening material to increase its resistance against bending in a transverse direction. The stop members 41 are each constituted of a section of wire bent into a U-shaped form to provide two parallel legs 44, 44, which are clamped to section 40. As shown in Fig. 15, the legs have an outer arcuately-shaped surface and a plane inner surface so that they are convexlyshaped in cross-section and have their major thickness along the longitudinal central portion thereof. This form of stop member, it has been found, enables it to be so securely clamped in position on the track that the possibility of its being shifted from its applied position during use, is small, and to provide stops which have absolutely even transverse engaging edges and a uniform central area for the line of sewing 45 which secures the track to a garment part 46.

The cooperating member illustrated in Figs. 12, 13 and 16 to 19, is similar to the previously described cooperating member in that it includes a body portion or top wall 47 provided at one end with a loop 48 by which it may be attached to a garment part 49, a bottom wall provided with a longitudinal slot 50 extending. throughout the length of such wall, side walls 51, 51, and an end wall 52, the side, top, end and bottom walls defining a housing or socket capable of straddling the flexible sec tion 40, and when so straddled, receiving a pair of stop members 41 forming a stop. The bottom wall also has a longitudinal length less than the distance between adjacent stops on the track so that the cooperating member may be inserted therebetween in the manner previously described to accomplish the latching of such member to a stop. This cooperating member differs from the previously described member in that the bottom Wall portions 53, 53 thereof, spaced by the slot 50, instead of being in the form of hooks, are integrally formed with the side walls 51, 51 thereof, and are bent through an angle of approximately ninety degrees to the latter. The side walls 51, 51, as in the previously described embodiment, are integral with the body portion or top wall 47 and are bent down from such top wall so as to be disposed at substantially right angles thereto. As will be noted more clearly in Fig. 18 of the drawings, the side walls 51 gradually increase in depth or width from the end wall 52 so that the bottom wall portions 53, 53 are inclined with respect to the topwall 47. The end wall 52 is integral" with' one-end of the top wall 47 and is bent down from such top wall so as to be disposed at substantially right angles thereto. In the region of the slot'Si], the end wall 52 depends only a slight distance below the'bottom or inner surface of the top wall 47. At its ends, in the regions of the bottom wall portions, the bottom Wall is provided with two extensions 54, whose lower ends abut or seat on the outer ends of the bottom wall portions 53, 53. By reason of the folding of the metal at the sides of the above described cooperating member and the construction of the end wall with relation to the bottom Wall portions thereof, such member is strengthened to the extent that it is practically collapse proof against the stresses it will undergo in usage and in laundering. In fact, it hasbeen found that this member though made of sheet metal, will not close or change its shape'or the shape of its opening, even though subjected to substantial compressive pressure. The bottom wall portions of the member, because of their integral connection to the side walls thereof, throughout their lengths cannot be sprung open under even severe strain and will not be caught in the machinery usually employed in commercial laundering.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 12 to 19 of the drawings, is operated in the same manner as the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, and a further explanation of the same is deemed unnecessary except to point out that when the cooperating member is fully positioned on the stop members of a stop with the latter engaged with the extensions 54, 54 of the end wall 52, and such member is under tension exerted through the garment parts 46 and 49, so that the top wall is tilted in the manner shown in Fig. 13 as in use, the central portion of the end wall engages the stop members and functions as a holding edge. The central portion of end wall 52 and the extensions 54, 54 thereof thus provide an even pull over the entire lengths of both stop members and thereby cause an equal distribution of the pulling stress to the track and through the latter to the garment part to which the track is attached. in order to prevent the accidental disengagement of the cooperating member from the stop members when not under to .sion, the bottom wall portions 53, 53 of such cooperating memher are provided with indentations 55, 55, which retain the stop members between such indentations and the end wall 52 until the cooperating member is positively moved to cause disengagement with such stop members. Because of the curved configuration of the stop members, passage of such members past the indentations 55, 55 is accomplished ina camming fashion, thus facilitating such passage and eliminating danger of the parts catchi In Figs. to 24 of the drawings, there is illustrated a'formof track which, while it has a flexible section and stops which appear similar to those of the track shown in Fig. 12, is attached by means of prongs to the garment part instead of by stitching. In this form of track, the stops each consist of a metal strip made to form a bandlike member or strap (at) whose ends are bent around the track section 61 and securely clamp such member to the latter. integrally connected to the central portion of the strap 60, which is located below the track section 61, is an extension 62 extending longitudinally of section 61 and having a width less than that of such section. The extension 62 is provided at its sides with prongs d?) which may be passed through the material of the garment part 64 and bent toward each other to secure the traci; ,to such garment part, as shown in Fig. 21 of tie drawi' Due to the offset arrangement of the prongs, the stops so constructed do not materially add to the thickness of the track section 61. As each stop member rovides its own means for securing the track to. the garment part, the flexibility of the latter is not decreased.

.It-will be apparent tothose skilled in the art thataothe changes and modifications oi'the; fastener of. this; invcm tion. may be made without departing from the scope of.

the appended claims.

I claim:

- 1. Agarment fastener for adjustably securingtwo parts of a garment together and including a track comprising a tape-like section of flexible material for securement directly to one of said garment parts by fastening means extending along the length of such section, and a series of spaced apart stops connected to said section and extending longitudinally of said track, said steps having transversely extending cooperating member engaging portions, and said fastener including an adjustable cooperating member having means at one end thereof for securing such member to the other of said garment parts, said cooperating member comprising a top wall, side walls, an end wall and a bottom Wall defining a housing, the end well being located at the other end of the cooperating member to obstruct the outer end of the housing, the inner end of the housing defined by such walls being open to enable the housing to receive a stop in the series, said bottom wall having a slot. extending throughout its length to provide two spaced longitudinally extending bottom wall. portions. adapted to be inserted under the transverse engaging portions of a stop, said bottom wall portions having a longitudinal length less than the distance between adjacent stops in said series to enable said housing to be inserted therebetwcen to receive a stop, said bottom Wall portions extending inwardly from said side Walls and said side walls being constructed and arranged relative to saidbottorn wall portions to prevent collapse of the latter under compressive pressure exerted on the housing.

2. A garment fastener for adjustably securing two parts of a garment together and including a track comprising a tape-lilac section of flexible material for securement directly to one of said garment parts by fastening means extending along the length of such ection, and a series of. spaced apart stops connected to said section and extending longitudinally of said track, said stops each hav-- ing oppositely disposed transversely extending cooperat ing member engaging portions, and said fastener includ-- ing an adjustable cooperating member having means at one end thereof for securing such member to the other of said garment parts, said cooperating member compris-- ing a top wall, side walls, an end wall ancl a bottom wall defining a housing, the end wall being located at the other end of the cooperating member to obstruct the outer end of the housing, the inner end of the housing defined by-such walls being open to enable the housing to receive a stop in the series, said bottom wall having a slot extending throughout its length to provide two spaced longitudinally extending bottom Wall portions adapted to be inserted under the transverse engaging portions of astop, said bottom wall portions having a longitudinal length less than the distance between adjacent stops in said series to enable said housing to be inserted therebetween to receivea stop, said bottom Wall portions extending inwardly from said side walls and said side walls being constructed and arranged relative to said bottom wall portions to prevent collapse of the latter under compressive pressure exerted on the housing, said side and end walls being integral with and bent down from the top wall.

3. A garment fastener for adjustably securing two parts of a garment together and including a track comprising a tape-like section of flexible material for securemcnt directly to one of said garment parts by fastening means extending along the length of such section, and a series of spaced apart stops connected to said section and extending longitudinally of said track, said stops each having oppositely disposed transversely extending cooperating member engaging portions, and said fastener including an adjustable cooperating member having means at one end, thereof for securing such member to the other of said. garment. parts;- saidcooperatingmeme a a a 9 ber comprising a top wall, side walls, an end wall and a bottom wall defining a housing, the end wall being located at the other end of the cooperating member to obstruct the outer end of the housing, the inner end of the housing defined by such walls being open to enable the housing to receive a stop in the series, said bottom wall having a slot extending throughout its length to provide two spaced longitudinally extending bottom wall portions adapted to be inserted under the transverse engaging portions of a stop, said bottom wall portions having a longitudinal length less than the distance between adjacent stops in said series to enable said housing to be inserted therebetween to receive a stop, said bot tom wall portions extending inwardly from said side walls and said side walls being constructed and arranged relative to said bottom wall portions to prevent collapse of the latter under compressive pressure exerted on the housing, said side and end walls being integral with and bent down from said top wall, and one of said walls integral with said top wall having a bottom edge overlying the top surface of said bottom wall so that the outer surface of the integral wall is substantially flush with an outer edge of the bottom wall.

4. A garment fastener for adjustably securing two parts of a garment together and including a track comprising a tape-like section of flexible material for securement directly to one of said garment parts by fastening means extending along the length of such section, and a series of spaced apart stops connected to said section and extending longitudinally of said track, said stops being constituted of rigid material secured to said tape-like flexible section and having transversely extend ing cooperating member engaging portions located outside the area occupied by said flexible section and arranged in longitudinal alignment, and said fastener including an adjustable cooperating member having means atone end thereof for securing such member to the other of said garment parts, said cooperating member comprising a top wall, side walls, an end wall and a bottom wall defining a housing, the end wall being located at the other end of the cooperating member, to obstruct the outer end of the housing, the inner end of the housing defined by such walls being open to enable the housingto receive a stop in the series, said bottom wall having a slot extending throughout its length to provide two spaced longitudinally extending bottom wall portions adapted to be inserted under the transverse engaging portions of a stop, said bottom wall portions having a longitudinal length less than the distance between adjacent stops in said series to enable said housing to be insertedtherebetween to receive a stop, said bottom wall portions extending inwardly from said side walls and said side walls being constructed and arranged relative to said bottom wall portions to prevent collapse of the latter under compressive pressure exerted on the housing.

5. A garment fastener for adjustably securing two parts of a garment together and including a track comprising a tape-like section of flexible material and having substantial thickness for securement in fiat relation throughout its length directly to one of said garment parts by a continuous line of stitches, and a series of spaced apart stops connected to said section and extending longitudinally'of said track, said stops being constituted of rigid material secured to said tape-like section and having transversely extending cooperating member engaging portions located outside the area occupied by said flexible section and arranged in longitudinal alignment, each of said stops consisting of a pair of stop members secured to opposed side edge portions of said flexible section and being located in transversely spaced relation on the section to provide a longitudinally extending substantially continuous and uniform intermediate portion of the tape-like section capable of being penetrated throughout its length by a needle to secure such section to its associated garment part by a continuous line of stitches, the portions of the stop members projecting in opposed relation from the side edges of the section constituting the transversely extending engaging portions of the stops, and said fastener including an adjustable cooperating member having means atone end thereof for securing such member to the other of said garment parts, said cooperating member comprising a top wall, side walls, an end wall and a bottom wall defining a housing, the end wall being located at the other end of the cooperating member to obstruct the outer end of the housing, the inner end of the housing defined by such walls being open to enable the housing to receive a stop in the series, said bottom wall having a slot extending throughout its length to provide two spaced longitudinally extending bottom wall portions adapted to be inserted under the transverse engaging portions of a stop, said bottom wall portions having a longitudinal length less than the distance between adjacent stops in said series to enable said housing to be inserted therebetween to receive a stop, said bottom wall portions extending inwardly from said side walls and said side Walls being constructed and arranged relative to said bottom wall portions to prevent collapse of the latter under compressive pressure exerted on the housing.

6. A garment fastener for adjustably securing two parts of a garment together and including a track comprising a tape-like section of flexible material and having substantial thickness, for securement in flat relation throughout its length directly to one of said garment parts by fastening means extending along the length of said section, and a series of spaced apart stops connected to said section and extending longitudinally of said track, said stops being constituted of rigid material secured to said tape-like section and each including a pair of cooperating member engaging portions extending transversely of said .section and projecting in opposed relation from the side edges of such section, and said fastener including an adjustable cooperating member having means at one end thereof for securing such member to the other of said garment parts, said cooperating member comprising a top wall,side walls, an end wall and a bottom wall defining a housing, the end wall being located at the otherend of the cooperating member to obstruct the outer end of the housing and the inner end of the housing defined by said wallsbeing open to enable the housing to receive a stop in the series, said housing having a longitudinal length less than the distance between adjacent stops in said series to enable said housing to be inserted therebetween to receive a stop, said bottom wall having a slot throughout its length to provide two longitudinally extending bottom wall portions spaced apart a distance at least as great as the width of said tape-like section and said end wall being provided with a centrally located recess forming part of said slot to enable the housingto be placed astraddle the flexible section with its top wall in engagement with the latter and to enable said bottom wall portions to be inserted under the opposed projecting engaging portions of a stop when said housing is straddling said track, the recess providing two spaced end wall portions forming stops at the outer ends of said bottom wall portions, said bottom wall portions extending inwardly from said side walls and said side walls being constructed and arranged relative to said bottom wall portions to prevent collapse of the latter under compressive pressure exerted on the housing.

7. A garment fastener for adjustably securing two parts of a garment together and including a track comprising a tape-like section of flexible material and having substantial thickness for securement in flat relation throughout its length directly to one of said garment parts by fastening means extending along the length of said section, and a series of spaced apart stops connected to said section and extending longitudinally of said track, said stops being constituted of rigid material secured to said tape-likesection and each including a pair of cooperating member engaging portions extending transversely of said section and projecting in opposed relation from the side edges of such section, and said fastener including an adjustable cooperating member having means at one end thereof for securing such member to the other of said garment parts, said cooperating member comprising a top wall, side walls, an end wall and a bottom wall deiining a housing, the end wall being located at the other end of the cooperating member to obstruct the outer end of the housing and the inner end of the housing defined by said walls being open to enable the housing to receive a stop in the series, said housing having a longitudinal length less than the distance between adjacent stops in said series to enable said housing to be inserted therebetween to receive a stop, said bottom wall having a slot throughout its length to provide two longitudinally ex-' tending bottom wall portions spaced apart a distance at least as great as the width of said tape-like section and said end wall being provided with a centrally located recess forming part of said slot to enable the housing to be placed astraddle the flexible section with its top wall in engagement with the latter and to enable said bottom wall portions to be inserted under the opposed projecting engaging portions of a stop when said housing is straddling said track, said end wall being integral with and bent down from the top Wall and the recess therein providing two spaced end wall portions forming stops at the outer ends of said bottom wall portions and a central shoulder of less depth than said end wall portions to engage with the transverse portions of a stop overlying said section, whereby the stress on said cooperating member is distributed equally on an engaged stop, said bottom wall portions extending inwardly from said side walls and said side walls being constructed and arranged relative to said bottom wall portions to prevent collapse of the latter under compressive pressure exerted on the housing.

8. A garment fastener for adjustably securing two parts of .a garment together and including a track comprising a tape-like section of flexible material and having substantial thickness, for securement in flat relation throughout its length directly to one of said garment parts by fastening means extending along the length of said section, and a series of spaced apart stops connected to said section and extending longitudinally of said track, said stops being constituted of rigid material secured to said tape-like section and each including a pair of cooperating member engaging portions extending transversely of said section and projecting in opposed relation from the side edges of such section, and said fastener including an adjustable cooperating member having means at one end thereof for securing such member to the other of said garment parts, said cooperating member comprising a top wall, side walls, an end wall and a bottom wall defining a housing, the end wall being located at the other end of the cooperating member to obstruct the outer end of the housing and the inner end of; the housing defined by said walls being open to enable the housing to receive a stop in the series, said housing having a longitudinal length less than the distance between adjacent stops in said series to enable said housing to be inserted therebetween to receive a stop, said bottom wall having a' slot throughout its length to provide two longitudinally extending bottom wall portions spaced apart a distance at least as great as the width of said tape-likcsection and said end wall being provided with a centrallylocated recess forming part of said slot to enable the housing to be placed astraddle the flexible section with its top wall in engagement with the latter and to enable said bottom wall portions to be inserted under the opposed projecting engaging portions of a stop when said housing is straddling said track, the recess providing two spaced end wall portions forming stops at the outer ends of said bottom wall portions, said side and end walls being integral with 12 and bent down from saidtop wall, said bottom wall portions being integral with and bent inwardly from said side walls, and said end wall portions having their bottom edges overlying and engaging the top surfaces of'the outer ends of said bottom wall portions. t

9 A garment fastener for adjustably securing two parts of a garment together and including a track com-. prising a tape-like section of flexible material and having substantial thickness, for securement in fiat relation throughout its length directly to one of said garment parts by fastening means extending along the length of said section, and a series of spaced apart stops connected to said section and extending longitudinally of said track, said stops being constituted of rigid material secured to said tape-like section and each including a pair of cooperating member engaging portions extending transversely of said section and projecting in opposed relation from the side edges of such section, and said fastener including an adjustable cooperating member having means at one end thereof for securing such member to the other of said garment parts, said cooperating member comprising a top wall, side walls, an end wall and a bottom wall defining a housing, the end wall being located at the other end of the cooperating member to obstruct the outer end of the housing and the inner end of the housing defined by said walls being open to enable the housing to receive a stop in the series, said housing having a longitudinal length less than the distance between adjacent stops in said series to enable said housing to be inserted therebetween to receive a stop, said bottom wall having a slot throughout its length to provide two longitudinally extending bottom wall portions spaced apart a distance at least as great as the width of said tape-like section and said end wall being provided with a centrally located recess forming part of said slot to enable the housing to be placed astraddle the flexible section with its top wall in engagement with the latter and to enable said bottom wall portions to be inserted under the opposed projecting engaging portions of a stop when said housing is straddling said track, there cess providing two spaced end wall portions forming stops at the outer ends of said bottom wall portions, said bottom wall portions extending inwardly from said side walls and said side walls being constructed and arranged relative to said bottom wall portions to prevent collapse of the latter under compressive pressure exerted on the housing, and coacting means on said stops and the stop receiving housing of the cooperating member for securing such housing on a stop until positively removed therefrom.

10. A garment fastener for adjustably securing two parts of a garment together and including a track comprising a tape-like section of flexible material and having substantial thickness, for securement in flat relation throughout its length directly to one of said garment parts by fastening means extending along the length of said section, and a series of spaced apart stops connected to said section and extending longitudinally of said track, said stops being constituted of rigid material secured to said tape-like section and each including a pair of cooperating member engaging portions extending transversely of said section and projecting in opposed relation from the side edges of such section, and said fastener including an adjustable cooperating member having means at one end thereof for securing such member to the other of said garment parts, said cooperating member comprising a top wall, side walls, an end wall and a bottom wall defining a housing, the end wall being located at the other end of the cooperating member to obstruct the outer end of the housing and the inner end of the housing defined by said walls being open to enable the housing to receive a stop in the series, said housing having a longitudinal length less than the distance between'adjacent stops in said series to enable said housing to be inserted therebetween to receive astop, said bottom wall having a slot throughout its length to provide two longitudinally extending bottom wall portions spaced apart a distance at least as great as the width of said tape-like section and said end wall being provided with a centrally located recess forming part of said slot to enable the housing to be placed astraddle the flexible section with its top wall in engagement with the latter and to enable said bottom wall portions to be inserted under the opposed projecting engaging portions of a stop when said housing is straddling said track, the recess providing two spaced end wall portions forming stops at the outer ends of said bottom wall portions, said bottom wall por tions extending inwardly from said side walls and said side walls being constructed and arranged relative to said bottom wall portions to prevent collapse of the latter under compressive pressure exerted on the housing, and indentations on said bottom wall portions for maintaining the engaging portions of a stop between said indentations and said end wall portions and thereby to secure the cooperating member to a stop until positively re moved therefrom.

11. A garment fastener such as defined in claim 1, in which said side walls are integral with and bent down from the top wall so that their bottom edges overlie and engage the top surfaces of said bottom wall portions with the outer surfaces of said side walls substantially flush with the outer side edges of said bottom wall portions.

12. A garment fastener such as defined in claim 1, in which said end wall is integral with and bent down from the top wall and in which said bottom wall portions are integrally connected at their outer ends to said end wall and together with the latter form a part of hookshaped members connected to the other end of the top wall and extending in spaced relation below such top wall toward said one end thereof, said hook-shaped members being spaced from the top wall a distance slightly greater than the depth of the transverse portions of the stops, said side walls being integral with and bent down from the top wall so that their bottom edges overlie and engage the top surfaces of said bottom wall portions with the outer surfaces of said side walls substantially flush with the outer side edges of said bottom wall portions. 1

13. A garment fastener such as defined in claim 1, in which said stops are each constituted of rigid material and include a supporting section secured to the tape-like section and an interlocking section on the supporting section and provided wtih said transversely extending cooperating member engaging portions, the interlocking section being raised and located outside the area occupied by the flexible tape-like section and in alignment with the interlocking sections of the other stops in the series.

14. A garment fastener such as defined in claim 1, in which said stops are each constituted of rigid material secured to said tape-like section and providing a pair of said cooperating member engaging portions projecting in opposed relation from the side edges of such section, each of said stops including a transverse strap clamped to saidtape-like section and the ends thereof constituting the cooperating member engaging portions, and in which said fastening means comprises a series of spaced clamping means, each of said means being integral with and offset from said transverse strap of a stop.

15. A garment fastener such as defined in claim 1, in which said stops are each constituted of rigid material secured to said tape-like section and providing a pair of said cooperating member engaging portions projecting in opposed relation from the side edges of such section, each of said stops including a transverse strap clamped to said tape-like section and the ends thereof constituting the cooperating member engaging portions, a plate integral with the central portion of said strap and extending longitudinally of said section beneath the latter, and a plurality of garment fastening prongs integral with said plate and offset from said strap, the said plates and prongs of said stop members constituting the fastening means for securing the track to a garment part.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 281,704 Ladd July 24, 1883 633,363 Murray Sept. 19, 1899 879,591 Roussel Feb. 18, 1908 1,205,247 Munroe Nov. 21, 1916 1,887,825 Statham Nov. 15, 1932 2,105,143 Greenberg Jan. 11, 1938 2,522,303 Schlytter Sept. 12, 1950 2,617,464 Trumbull Nov. 11, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 783,850 France July 18, 1935 

